Probation Trial Attorneys on the Record

Attorneys Stellio Sinnis and John Amabile talk about their the trial that found their clients guilty of running a rigged hiring scheme

The downfall of John O'Brien became official on July 24 when a jury found him and two deputies guilty of running a rigged hiring scheme that handed out probation department jobs on the basis of political connections.

O'Brien's troubles aren't over, either, since he'll face sentencing later this year.

Attorney Stellio Sinnis, who defended O'Brien, and attorney John Amabile, who defended one of O'Brien's deputies, joined Broadside Monday night for their first television interview since the trial.

Amabile said the case was "horse manure" before the jury came back with their finding.

"The jury in a case like this plays a very important but somewhat limited role. They do not have any role in the decision about who to charge, whether to charge or what to charge," he said.

Sinnis said what was lost in the case was that every person O'Brien hired or promoted was qualified for the position.

"Jack O'Brien hired or promoted roughly a thousand people, and the government brought an indictment alleging some wrong doing, roughly 1 percent, less than 1 percent of those," he said. 

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